See Spot. See Spot run. And, if Tony Reed has his way, see Spot leap 20 feet off a dock to thunderous applause.

It’s all for the love of Splash Dogs Dock Diving, a sort of broad jump X-Games for canines. And it’s Reed, a Texan-turned Pittsburg resident championing the cause for the paws, that draws more pooches than a cat dunk tank.

It was only a couple of years ago when Reed was flipping through channels and caught a similar dog-leaps-into-water-for-tossed-object contest on ESPN. He sat mesmerized. And as a typical dog owner, believed his own pet, Sierra, could be a top leaper. The dog was soon entered in the “Incredible Dog Challenge” in San Francisco.

“I had high expectations of my dog flying 30 feet and winning it all,” Reed says. The dog flopped.

“I was devastated,” Reed says smiling. “She didn’t win. But she was wagging her tale and having fun. I realized then I needed to control my emotions. A lot of people do live vicariously through their dog.”

After one other dog jump event — Sierra lost by an inch — Reed did some research. And, in October 2003, promoted his first Splash Dogs. Ten dogs were entered. Then he did another show. Thirty dogs entered. A “Wags to Wishes” fundraiser lured 400 entries. Reed was onto something. And he didn’t let water — or lack of it — prevent him from delivering Splash Dogs. He built a 40-foot portable dock on a trailer with an inflatable pond holding 28,000 gallons of water.

The next Splash Dog event is today and Sunday at the Pittsburg Marina, featuring the Bay Area Diving Dogs (BADD).

The event is almost as tongue-wagging for the dog owners, who may not dog paddle to a tennis ball, but there’s the sprinting of encouragement until the end of the dock.

“It’s a great way for the animals and owners to get in shape,” Reed says. “There’s short-yardage sprinting and swimming for the animals, and the owners run along side their pets offering encouragement.”

Bart Richardson, a 44-year-old Ripon resident, totes his 3-year-old Labrador Retriever, Gunner, to numerous dog splash events. Gunner took the first Splash Dog dive at the Pittsburg Marina in 2005.

“He lives for it. He loves it, and I enjoy making him happy,” Richardson says. Gunner has gained confidence and ability along the way. The dog’s first jump at a Splash event was 7 feet. Then 12 feet.

“It’s good training,” Richardson says. “It burns calories and isn’t hard on the joints. He does do all the work, it seems.”

Richardson has driven Gunner 11 hours to Scottsdale, Ariz., for a the “Purina Incredible Dog Challenge,” and the dog leaped 28 feet.

“It’s the fastest-growing dog sport in the world,” Richardson says, adding that Reed is integral in the sport’s success. “He’s the ambassador. He’s integrity. He’s a good, honest man, and he just wants to make these dogs happy.”

Some dogs are like flying squirrels when they leap off a dock. Others are tongue-waggin’ anchors.

“For some, it’s a natural instinct,” Reed says. “Some, you have to train them to get the confidence to jump. For a lot of labs, it’s natural. But we have Jack Russells, we have collies. We’ve even seen a dachshund jump. People and their dogs come from all over.”

A dog owner can lure the pooch into the water with any device “that isn’t alive or previously alive,” Reed says.

Fortunately, Reed hasn’t had to throw out many owners during his second career. There have been a few who have either taken the event a bit too seriously or their animal a bit too physically.

“We don’t tolerate any abuse of the dogs,” Reed says. “We will give the owners one chance and the second time tell them to leave. We’ve had owners argue and we try to get hold of that right off the bat. I’ve e-mailed plenty of people, ‘You know, you were awful upset, but your dog didn’t seem that upset. Maybe we need to take examples from our dogs.'”

For the most part, the dogs are more cordial to each other than the owners are to other owners, Reed says.

“Some dogs are not as friendly as others,” he says. “And we don’t want aggressive dogs around here. But we’ve had pit bulls who have jumped with no trouble. They’re well-mannered. It’s all about the owner and how they train the dog.”

Dog owners are charged around $20 a “wave,” or in Olympic jargon, a heat. The most prize money one can earn is $225.

“I’d like to get the prize money up and get the sponsors, but we’re dealing with corporate people,” Reed says smiling. “We are trying to build it up.”

Reed hopes to create, if not a monster, than a beast of a fun-filled, dog-filled weekend event he can take around the country. Perhaps a veritable Pawfest.

“People want us to come everywhere,” he says. “I get calls, ‘Come to my hometown.'”

“They’re just looking for an excuse to protest,” Reeds says. “But look at these dogs. They’re having the best time of their life. These events provide excellent aquatics and water exercise is great for dogs. It’s being used more and more in dog rehab. Dogs are in better shape than the rest of the public.”

Event announcer Greg Abner repeatedly tells the audience, “a tired dog is a happy dog and a happy dog is a tired dog.”

Cheryl Rueda of Pleasant Hill agrees.

“She really loves the water,” Rueda says. “The dogs get more and more confident. We’re a team. She sees that I’m having fun and she’s having fun. It’s good for her health and mine. Any activity you do with your dog is good.”

Dana Smith, of Walnut Creek, takes Cooper to the Dog Splash events for the joy of seeing her pet have a blast.

“I think it’s good learning for obedience and discipline,” Smith says. “And he has fun doing it. It’s also good bonding for us. It’s all about fun.”